Sports Briefs

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints announced Monday that they have signed quarterback Seneca Wallace to a one-year contract. The announcement was made by Saints' Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.

A nine-year veteran, Wallace (5-11, 205) has appeared in 62 games with 21 starts during his NFL career, completing 452-of-764 passes for 4,808 yards with 31 touchdowns, 18 interceptions and a 84.5 passer rating. Also a threat with his legs, Wallace has carried 68 times for 293 times for one touchdown.

He played his last two seasons in Cleveland and seven seasons in Seattle. In 2011, he appeared in six games with three starts for the Browns and completed 55-of-107 passes for 567 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, along with seven carries for 70 yards (10.0 avg.).

Wallace started his career as a fourth round selection in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. After appearing in 48 games with 14 starts in seven seasons with the Seahawks, he was traded to Cleveland in 2010, where he appeared in 14 games and started seven contests in two years.

Wallace played college football at Iowa State, where in two seasons, he completed 411-of-712 passes for 5,289 yards and 26 touchdowns, while adding 912 yards and 15 scores on 237 carries in 25 games, as finished his career ranked first in school history in total offense (6,201) and second in passing yardage. As a senior, he was a consensus All-Big 12 conference second-team choice, completing 244-of-443 passes for 3,245 yards with 15 touchdowns, adding 437 rushing yards with eight touchdowns.

Noel to enter
NBA draft

The 6-foot-10 freshman is projected to be a lottery pick despite sustaining his season-ending knee injury on Feb. 12. He led the nation with 4.4 blocks per game, and averaged 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.

Noel also had 50 steals for Kentucky (21-12), earning Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year honors, along with first team all-conference and freshman team selections.

Noel said in statement released by the university that he's loved his time with the Wildcats but feels he's "ready to take the next step to the NBA."

Major Leagues
honor Robinson

BOSTON - Everybody in uniform at the Tampa Bay Rays game Monday against the Red Sox at Fenway Park wore the number "42" as Major League Baseball celebrated its fifth annual Jackie Robinson Day.

Fans will see more of that number on jerseys before the next couple of days are out. All the teams in action - there were eight night games on the schedule, in addition to the Rays-Red Sox day game - were asked to wear Robinson's number on the 66th anniversary of his breaking the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Teams that didn't play on Monday planned to pay tribute Tuesday.

The anniversary is drawing special attention this year with the release of the film "42" about Robinson, which went into wide release over the weekend.

"We had a screening down in spring training," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It was open to all of our personnel."

More than 100 players and other club employees watched the film at a theater in Port Charlotte, Fla., the Rays' spring training site, "and I think a lot of guys walked away with a greater appreciation" of Robinson's contribution, Maddon said.

Maddon said Robinson's debut on April 15, 1947, helped lead to the broader civil rights movement.

"I still don't think people understand how much it plays into the Martin Luther King situation," he said. "The revolution that occurred at that particular moment, it mattered. That had to happen first to set that whole thing up.